Srinagar, Mar 13 (KNO): The government on Thursday said the wildlife department has established around 42 control rooms across Jammu and Kashmir to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
Minister in charge of Forest, Ecology & Environment, in a response to a query raised by MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, said the government has strategically installed cages at vulnerable locations to safely capture and relocate wild animals posing a threat to human life and property.
These control rooms have been equipped with tranquilising guns, medicines, capture nets and cages to ensure quick intervention in cases of animal attacks, poaching threats or the presence of wild animals in human settlements, the minister, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said.
The minister said officials stationed at these centres work in coordination with the police, revenue and forest departments to handle such situations effectively.
He said awareness campaigns through electronic, print and social media are being carried out to educate the public on safety measures and best practices during wildlife encounters.
The minister further informed that the government is addressing the growing stray dog menace through the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and ABC Rules, 2022. Under this initiative, stray dogs are captured, sterilised, and vaccinated against rabies, helping reduce their population and potential conflicts, he said.
Moreover, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have constituted Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committees to oversee and implement control measures, the minister added—(KNO)